Review GigaDeathNullGolem 4/5 · Sep 4, 2023
Stupid hard and duimbt Controls but really cool otherwise
Chaos Engine (Soldiers of Fortune) Is a Top Down multi-directional shooting game. It resembles the SNES release of Jurassic Park in the sense that the shooting controls similarly in how you can hold down fire and then turn-as-you-aim using the directional pad. It also features layered/maze-like paths through mixed terrain consisting of jungle and rocky areas. The game also features …
Chaos Engine (Soldiers of Fortune) Is a Top Down multi-directional shooting game. It resembles the SNES release of Jurassic Park in the sense that the shooting controls similarly in how you can hold down fire and then turn-as-you-aim using the directional pad. It also features layered/maze-like paths through mixed terrain consisting of jungle and rocky areas. The game also features a rather robust character/stat system split between two (six to pick from) simultaneous characters (your lackey is controlled by an AI or a second player co-op fun). The game has a lot of detail in places, like the stat screen between levels, the title screen, and other places. Supposedly he game has a steampunk aesthetic, it's something odd, alright, which is the one thing I do remember about this game was that weird aesthetic (and how hard it is) The other notable thing is how the soundtrack is a UK house sequencer, where the music changes in some parts of the level, adding another layer to the track. What English madness is this?
Lots of routes and passages close up as you open new ones = some replayablity
The gameplay itself is okay. Connecting hits is tough. Since your AI wanders around you, it feels like you kind of have a bigger hitbox and try to stay out of the way so your Buddy doesn't get hit. Enemy respawns are programmed but designed to be chaotic, with one enemy appearing in front of you and then the next appearing behind you. I really didnt like he way the game difficulty tends to play out. You have to buy back health in between levels and buy lives. This means you really got to pick up those coins that enemies drop before they disappear to max out your stats as well as lost health and lives. Balance between picking up health, lives and weapon upgrades you find in the field, delegating between the two characters is a bit of a nuanced thing. The levels themselves tend to actually open up and close themselves as you progress so its a bit like Gauntlet in how navigating through a maze is also a key part of game play.
Complexity like this hints at its Amiga origins maybe
Ultimately this does end up being a pretty cool game from the era that does stand out I have to admit. I was initially turned off from the difficulty (so easy to get hit and dodging tends to be tricky... Getting the timing between shooting and dodging is not easy) It was quite enjoyable via emulation. I'll revisit the genesis version someday to play with a friend in Co-Op. I'm sure the game really shines best here, OFC.
While it doesn't beat titles like Zombies Ate My Neighbors If you're looking for an interesting game from a UK dev from this generation, This isn't a bad one! It's a really cool and unique soundtrack, and lots of very British sounding voice samples. (Both Genesis and SNES)
